Ticket board and ticket support devices therefor



c. M. BAYER 3,175,318

TICKET BOARD AND TICKET SUPPORT DEVICES THEREFOR March 30, 1965 Filed. March 4, 1963 ATTORNEY I I z 7 .1 I11 4 V .7 I s I a h I n & 1/ I $400 United States Patent 3,175,318 TICKET BOARD AND TKCKET SUPPORT DEVICES THEREFGP. Clifiord M. Bayer, 309 Levin Lane, Shreveport, La. Filed Mar. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 262,6tl9 9 Claims. (or. 4e ia.s

This invention relates to supports and more particularly to supports for a plurality of removable cards, sheets or tickets and the like (hereinafter referred to generally as tickets) disposed in movable rows. An example of such supports is the so-called ticket boards, found in the kitchens of restaurants and other dining places, adapted to detachably support food orders.

An important object of the invention is to provide a rotary ticket board, whereby easy and rapid manual placing of tickets thereon may be accomplished, in the order they are brought to the kitchen, the board being rotated step-by-step as new tickets are placed thereon, and the filled order tickets removed. This permits the chef to know, at a glance, which order is next to be filled and how many orders are filled and how many are awaiting filling.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a ticket board as above which will accommodate tickets of various lengths and various widths, tickets containing a perforation permitting them to be hung from a suitable projection or, in the absence of a perforation, clipped upon the board, or impaled upon the projections. The tickets do not require bending, arching or folding in order to support them upon the board.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive rotary ticket board which includes an endless belt upon which the tickets are placed, but which is free of rollers or the like for the belt.

Furthermore, an important object of the invention is to provide a compact rotary ticket board which will occupy a relatively small space, is readily assembled, and the individual support means for the tickets being readily attached to the endless belt in selected spaced-apart relationship.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a rotary ticket board, including an endless belt and individual ticket supports carried thereby, with the attaching means for the individual ticket supports concealed in the body or frame of the board.

An additional important object of the invention is to provide novel individual ticket supporting devices for detachable connection to the belt of the ticket board.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this disclosure, and in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an example of the ticket board of my invention with tickets supported thereon by one form of individual ticket supporting device.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the board of FIGS. 1 and 2, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of another form of individual ticket supporting device carried by the endless belt of the ticket board.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the support of FIG. 4, substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a third form of individual ticket supporting device.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational View thereof.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the support of FIGS. 6 and 7, substantially on the line 88 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view, substantially on the line 99 of FIG. 8. In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts through the several views, the letter A generally designates the rotary ticket board; B, tickets supported thereupon; C, D and E, three forms of individual ticket supports; and F, a base upon which the board A may be disposed.

The rotary ticket board A includes a preferably elongated frame 10 consisting of an upper frame section 11 and a lower frame section 12, best shown in FIG. 3. Each section may consist of an integral block or body as of wood, plastic or metal, with an upper face 13, lower face 14, opposite side faces 15 and opposite arcuate end faces 16.

One section, such as the section 11, may be provided with a plurality of spaced apart lugs 17, projecting from the face 14 thereof, while the other section 12 may be provided with a plurality of spaced apart sockets 18 to snugly receive the lugs 17, for the purpose of positioning the sections so that the side and end faces respectively of each are in the same vertical planes and the two sections may be readily positioned, one upon the other.

Means to detachably couple the two sections 11 and 12 together may consist of a plurality of nut and bolt assem blies 20 with the bolt heads disposed in recesses 19, such as that shown in FIG. 3 and the heads disposed in recesses 27 also as one is shown in FIG. 3, while the shanks of the bolts extend through suitable aligning bores 26 extending through the sections 11 and 12 from the recesses 19 and 27.

As may be seen, such as in FIGS. 2 and 3, each section 11 and 12 is provided with a half groove which, when the sections are assembled as in FIG. 3, provides a relatively deep groove 21, which extends. wholly around the two section-s 11 and 12 and positioned substantially the same distance from the upper face 13 of the section 11 to the lower face 14- of the section 12. This continuous groove is adapted to contain the rear portions of the individual ticket supports C, D and E, to b subsequently described.

In order to accommodate the endless conveyor belts 36, 31 or 32 of the board A, I prefer to provide a shallow continuous groove 22 which comprises two half grooves in the sections 11 and 12 extending inwardly from the side and end faces 15 and 16 and undercut as at 23. This groove 22 also is disposed substantially equal distance from the upper face 13 of the section 11 and lower face 14 of the section 12. The undercuts 23 provide flanges 24, back of which the upper and lower portions of the belt 30, 31 or 32, as the case may be, slide as the belt rotates.

For aiding in the support of an indicator means, later to be described, I may prefer to provide a plurality of sockets 25 extending into the sections 11 and 12 from locations at the side faces 15 and adjacent the flanges 24, as shown in FIG. 3.

The endless conveyor belt 30 of FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive, as well as the endless conveyor belts 31 (of FIGS. 4-5) and 32 (of FIGS. 69) are all of some flexible material, such as leather, thin metal, plastic, heavy cloth or a tough paper stock or textile fabric reinforced by an imbedded wire mesh. The belts must be of such material that they will slide readily, without slack, in the groove 22, including the arcuate portions of the groove at the end faces of the frame 14), being propelled by the hand of an operator,

for example. They are preferably provided with a plurality of spaced-apart openings 33, 34 and 35 respectively, non-circular in shape and disposed the entire length of the belt and intermediate its upper and lower edges. These openings are adapted to receive portions of the individual ticket supports C, D and E, as the case may be.

For the purpose of indicating one or more tickets B carried by the belt, I prefer to provide an elongated slotted slideway 36 or, if desired, two or more slideways, which may be disposed above the belt, with suitable prongs or lugs 37 extending from the inner face of the slideway, and disposed in snug-fitting engagement with the walls of the sockets 25. The slideway has a forwardly opening mouth and at least one open end, so that one or more indices 38 may be carried by the slideway to project outwardly thereof and provided with an enlargement or lug 39 slidably retained within the slideway as is believed clear in FIG. 3, compared with FIG. 1.

Referring now to the individual ticket supporting devices C, D and E, each is alike in that each preferably includes a prong or lug portion preferably L-shaped or J- shaped, and having a non-circular shank portion to fit snugly in an opening 33, 34 or 35, as the case may be, so that the prong or lug will not turn in the opening. Each also includes a spring clip portion carried by the prong or lug portion, with both the prong or lug and the spring clip portions adapted to extend outwardly of the belt to which they are attached. The supporting devices C, D and E also include means to detachably connect them to the belt 30, 31 or 32, as the case may be.

In the cases of the individual ticket supporting device C of FIGS. 1-3, and the individual ticket supporting devices D of FIGS. 4 and 5, there is also provided a plate portion to which the prong or lug portion is secured.

The form C includes the prong or lug portion 4% carrying the clip portion 41 and, in turn, carried by the plate portion 43 rearwardly of which is a non-circular lug portion 44 to extend through the opening 33, and back of the lug portion is a screw-threaded shank portion 45, upon which is mounted a washer 46 of larger area than that of the opening 33 and bearing against the rear face of the belt 30, with a nut 47 screwed upon the shank portion 45 and bearing against the washer. The elements 4tlt7 are preferably of metal, as steel, and the clip portion 41 is of springy metal.

Referring next to the individual ticket support device D. of FIGS. 4 and 5, the prong or lug portion 55, clip portion 56, plate portion 57 and non-circular lug portion 58 may be like the same portions of the form C except that the lug portion 58 is preferably extended reaiwardly of the belt 31 (as well as through the opening 34 in the belt) and is provided with a pair of preferably vertically extending parallel edge grooves 52 to receive the legs 53 of a hairpin-shaped spring metal clip 54, substantially as in FIG. 4, the bight and lower portions of the legs 53 bearing against the inner face of the belt 34.

FIGS. 6-9 inclusive illustrate a third form (E) of individual ticket support device. Here the prong or lug portion 60 supports a bifurcated spring clip portion 64 since the prong or lug. portion is provided with two vertically-extending parallel edge slots 62 (shown in FIG. 9) into which the inner portions of the legs 63 of the clip portion extend and which bear against the outer face of the belt 32. The rear part of the prong or lug portion 60 terminates in an enlargement, as a disc 61, greater in area than that of the opening 35 and it bears against the inner face of the belt 32. From the bight 65 of the clip extends the forward parts (two legs) of the clip portion, with the legs 63 rearwardly thereof.

The individual tickets B may take any desired form. They are generaly of paper or light cardboard and may be provided- With a perforation adjacent their upper ends through which any of the prong or lug portions 4%, 55 or 60. may project. Or they may be impaled upon these portions, or retained by the clip portions 41, 56 or 64.

In assemblying the ticket board or support A, with the lower section 12 of the frame 19 resting upon a fiat surface (as the top 7'9 of the base F) with the face 13 uppermost, and the shanks of the nut and bolt assemblies 20 projecting upwardly from the bores 26 in the lower sec tion, the assembler may then attach the individual ticket support devices C, D or E, as the case may be, to the belt 30, 31, or 32, as is believed obvious, and slip the belt down over the section 12 so that the lower portion of the belt will enter the exposed lower portions of the recesses 22 thereof, with the flanges 24 of the section 12 outwardly of the belt, as may be appreciated from FIG. 3. Thereupon, the upper section 11 of the frame 10 may be lowered upon the upper face 13 of the lower section 12, with the protruding bolt shanks projecting through the bores 26 of the upper section, and the nuts of the nut and bolt assemblies 2t! tightened upon the shanks.

From the above it is now apparent that the rear portions of the individual ticket support devices C, D or E are now within the recesses 21, out of sight, yet may be moved upon movements of the belt 35), 31, or 32. If it is desired to rearrange the positions of the devices, C, D or E, the upper section 11, for example, of the frame 10 may be removed and the devices loosened from the belt. Total removal of any of the devices C, D or E cannot be effected without first disassembling the upper section 11 from the lower section 12, so that unauthorized removal of any of the devices C, D or E is not easily effected.

It will be noted that the tickets B are very readily mounted on the board A. They need not be folded nor arched in mounting them, and they are just as readily re moved as they may be mounted.

In effecting rotation of the belt 30, 31 or 32, the operator need but grasp a prong or lug portion 40, 55 or 60, as the case may be, and push upon it in the direction of re tation of the belt, which would generally be anti-clockwise.

It will be noted that, in each case, the prong or lug por tion, Whether the portion 40, 55 or 60, supports the clip portion associated therewith.

Various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made to the forms of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A ticket board including a frame having upper and lower faces, side faces and arcuate end faces, a continuous groove in said frame having a continuous rear face substantially paralleling the planes of said side and end faces, extending from said side and end faces intermediate the plane of said upper mid lower faces, an endless belt carried by said frame rotatable in said groove, and in sliding contact with said rear face; and a plurality of spaced apart support devices carried by said belt to detachably support tickets depending from said devices, each of said devices including an attaching portion extending into said groove and said devices being rotatable therealong upon rotation of said belt, and other portions of said devices being detachably coupled to said attaching portions, extending outwardly of said frame from said belt for supporting said tickets.

2. A ticket board according to claim 1 characterized in that said frame comprises an upper section and a lower section, and said groove is contained partly in the lower part of said upper section and partly in the upper part of said lower section; whereby, upon removal of one of said sections from the other of said sections, said groove is revealed and said attaching portions may be manually detached from said other portions.

3. A ticket board according to claim 1 characterized in that said frame comprises an upper sectionand a lower section, and said groove is contained partly in the lower part of said upper section and partly in the upper part of said lower section; whereby, upon removal of one of said sections from the other of said sections, said groove is revealed and said attaching portions may be manually detached from said other portions and from said belt.

4. A ticket board including a frame consisting of an upper section and a lower section, each section having an upper face, a lower face, side faces and arcuate end faces, with the lower face of the upper section disposed upon the upper face of the lower section, a continuous recess in each section, substantially paralleling the horizontal planes of said upper and lower faces and extending inwardly from said side and end faces and upwardly from the lower face of the upper section and downwardly from the upper face of the lower section, with the recesses forming a continuous belt-receiving groove, and a second continuous recess in each section, substantially paralleling said planes and extending inwardly from the first-named continuous recess forming a continuous second groove, less in height than the first-named groove; an endless belt rotatable in said belt-receiving groove, each groove having an arcuate inner face inwardly of the first-named arcuate end faces; a plurality of spaced apart support devices for tickets, carried by said belt, each of said support devices, including an attaching portion and a support portion, with said attaching portion extending into said second groove and slidable therealong upon rotation of said belt, and said support portion projecting outwardly of said belt from said first groove.

5. A ticket board according to claim 4 characterized in that said support portion comprises a prong and a spring clip carried by said prong.

6. A ticket supporting device for attachment to an endless belt of a ticket board, said device comprising a ticket support portion, a spring clip portion carried by said ticket support portion, and means to detachably secure said ticket support portion and clip portion to said belt.

7. A ticket supporting device according to claim 6 characterized in that said means to detachably secure said prong portion to said belt comprises a plate portion having a face for face contact with the outer face of said belt and secured to said prong portion, a lug for extension through said belt and integral with said plate portion, and means carried by said lug at the rear face of said belt for coupling said plate portion to said belt.

8. A ticket support device according to claim 7 charac terized in that said lug has two opposite side faces, each provided with a groove, and said means carried by said lug also includes a spring clip having a bight portion and a pair of legs extending therefrom and snugly disposed in said grooves and bearing against the walls thereof and extending outwardly of the ends of said grooves.

9. A ticket support device for attachment to a perforated belt, said support device comprising a prong portion having side faces, an enlargement rearwardly thereof for bearing against said belt, and a pair of parallel vertically-extending grooves in said side faces, and a bifurcated spring clip portion with portions of the legs thereof extending into said grooves and for hearing against said belt, said spring clip portion having a bight portion and spring clip legs extending downwardly therefrom, forwardly of the first-named legs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 583,074 5/97 Nichols 40-32 2,526,536 10/50 Bryan 40-96 JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TICKET BOARD INCLUDING A FRAME HAVING UPPER AND LOWER FACES, SIDE FACES AND ARCUATE END FACES, A CONTINUOUS GROOVE IN SAID FRAME HAVING A CONTINUOUS REAR FACE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLELING THE PLANES OF SAID SIDE AND END FACES, EXTENDING FROM SAID SIDE AND END FACES INTERMEDIATE THE PLANE OF SAID UPPER AND LOWER FACES, AN ENDLESS BELT CARRIED BY SAID FRAME ROTATABLE IN SAID GROOVE, AND IN SLIDING CONTACT WITH SAID REAR FACE; AND A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART SUPPORT DEVICES CARRIED BY SAID BELT TO DETACHABLY SUPPORT TICKETS DEPENDING FROM SAID DEVICES EACH OF SAID DEVICES INCLUDING AN ATTACHING PORTION EXTENDING INTO SAID GROOVE AND SAID DEVICES BEING ROTATABLE THEREALONG UPON ROTATION OF SAID BELT, AND OTHER PORTIONS OF SAID DEVICES BEING DETACHABLY COUPLED TO SAID ATTACHING PORTIONS, EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID FRAME FROM SAID BELT FOR SUPPORTING SAID TICKETS. 